Hideki Matsui?
by Bly-lovin on Nov 12, 2009 10:23 AM PST
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NPB Tracker's Patrick Newman had some interesting info on Hideki Matsui in a recent post: http://www.npbtracker.com/2009/11/more-on-matsui/. Specifically, he states that "reports persist that the Angels could turn to Matsui if negotations with Vladimir Guerrero stall," citing an article published in Nikkan Sports, a Japanese sports newspaper: http://www.nikkansports.com/baseball/mlb/news/p-bb-tp2-20091112-565202.html. For those of you who don't read Japanese, I'll note a few things of interest from the article after the jump (though my Japanese ain't that great anymore):
The first half of the article talks about the chances of Matsui returning to the Yankees. Apparently Matsui asked Brian Cashman if he could return as an outfielder and was told no. Cashman is directly quoted as saying that if the Yankees do bring back Matsui, he would not play in the OF but would strictly be a DH. Cashman also is quoted as noting that he is aware that Yankee fans really want to bring Matsui back, but that the opinions of fans change all the time, and that it wouldn't influence his decision. The interesting thing for us Angels fans is that Tony Reagins is directly quoted in the article, saying "Even if he [Matsui] can't play in the outfield every game, [we] believe that he is a capable defender." [Though I have to think that something got lost in the translation and that Reagins probably said something more along the lines of believing that Matsui is capable of playing the outfield, though not every game - I doubt Tony thinks Matsui is a "capable" defender.] Reagins is also quoted as saying, "We'd like Vlad to stay, but we don't know what's going to happen in the future." The article goes on to say that the Angels would pursue Matsui if they can't bring back Vlad, and that playing for the Angels would be a great fit for Matsui given the Angels' winning ways and the warm SoCal weather being ideal for Matsui's aching knees.
Personally, I've always liked Matsui and would love to see him on the Angels next year. He hit .274/.367/.509 in 142 games this year, popping 28 homers with 64 walks (walking in 12.3% of his PAs) against 75 strikeouts. Obviously he does have some pretty major flaws, and we probably couldn't count on him playing LF much. But a lineup with Abreu and Matsui sure would make pitchers work...If Figgy isn't brought back, we could even have Abreu lead off, Izzy/Aybar/Kendrick bat second, and stick Matsui in the middle of the order. Thoughts?
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not a bad Plan C
but i’d wait to see what happens. it’s kind of a toss up between him and Vlad at that point, and, at this point in their respective careers, their numbers would probably offset (with Matsui owning a higher OBP).
I think management will probably try a few other routes first
Thank you, Nick Adenhart. You will always be remembered. #34
Dee Aitch
I always prefer to have a guy with experience who has proven he can hit as a DH, rather than an old OF to try at DH.
Some players just can’t handle sitting around most of the game.
I think it's cool we're now getting info from Japanese newspapers
from one of our members. That was really interesting and something I hadn’t heard before about Matsui.
Thanks for posting this.
Matsui had produced very well in the playoffs
I just picture him playing for either Seattle or San Fransisco.
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
not in seattle
With Jr. just re-upping for a year, matsui is not going there.
by Baylorsgroove on Nov 12, 2009 3:10 PM PST up reply actions
I heard that.
Could Matsui work for a NL Team.
RIP Nick Adenhart 4/9/09
I blog about the Angels at The Diamond Aces
The bat's OK
It is his knees which don’t work too well, and for that reason he will probably be a DH in the AL.
That said, it is easy for some here to get starry-eyed over his MVP series and some monster shots he’s hit through the years, but the bottom line is that he has 140 HR over seven MLB seasons—that’s an average of 20 HR per year. It would be higher, of course, but for the fact he missed chunks of 2006 and 2008 with injuries. At 36 mid-way through the 2010 season, he’s going to be showing his age very quickly, especially with a pair of bad knees.
Talking about paying $7M to $11M per season for a guy who’s hit an average of 20 HR per season for the last seven years really doesn’t make sense. Once upon a time, the Angels front office fell all over themselves trying to sign a slugger whose glory years were mostly in his rear view mirror (think: Cecil Fielder, Eddie Murray, etc). I think the current Angels front office is smarter than that.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 13, 2009 12:56 PM PST up reply actions
Really interesting read.
Thanks for the translation. Not only can I not read Japanese but my computer can’t even show the characters.
The only magic number now is #34
Im absolutely sold!
You had me at “But a lineup with Abreu and Matsui sure would make pitchers work…If Figgy isn’t brought back, we could even have Abreu lead off, Izzy/Aybar/Kendrick bat second, and stick Matsui in the middle of the order. Thoughts?”
I vaguely remember some east coast team having this exact duo in the lineup, and they won what? 10, 11 rings?
I brought sexy back, but they only gave me store credit....
Something tells me
that relying on Abreu and Matsui wasn’t so much the problem…but maybe relying on getting quality innings from Carl Pavano et al was…
Yes please! strickly as a DH
Matsui killed LHP with a .618 SLG% and a .976 OPS. The angels’ likely competitors in the playoffs will have southpaws like Lester, Sabathia, Pettite. I love Vlad, but if he demands too much moolah and is unwilling to be the DH then Matsui will be more than capable of filling that role.
I can see the ninja swooping in after he is spurned by the Yanks for Bay or Holliday. We can then have our very own Matsui statue at the big A.
NA 34
Great point
about Matsui’s effectiveness against LHP and the pitchers we will likely face in the postseason next year. I wanted to put up a poll about whether folks preferred Matsui or Vlad as our DH next year, but my computer here at work won’t let me do it…That is one scary-looking statue, looks like one of those heads on Easter Island holding a bat. But if we get Matsui, and he hits for us in the postseason the way he hit for the Yankees and it gets us a world championship, I will put a replica of that statue in my backyard!
If Matsui helps us win a championship...
…I’d put one on my front lawn!
OK, I'm finally over losing Tex. Thanks Kendry.
statue
If Matsui helps us win the WS I will kick my wife out of bed and put it in their with me. (non sexual way). ;P
by Baylorsgroove on Nov 16, 2009 2:51 PM PST up reply actions
Funny when I translated the article with babelfish it says that Matsui would like to play in SoCal to be closer to the heart of the American porn industry.
vr, Xei
by Xeifrank on Nov 12, 2009 4:42 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
That does remind me
of a story I read (which you’re probably referencing), I think it was in Robert Whiting’s “The Meaning of Ichiro.” (A very entertaining read by the way.) For those of you who haven’t heard, Matsui is known to be very friendly with the Japanese sports reporters who follow him, doing things like treating them to dinner once a month. It turned out that he and some of the reporters would even trade porn tapes on occasion. When asked about this, Matsui apparently shrugged and said, “I thought everyone does that with their friends.” Can’t fault a man for his honesty…
Matsui would be a good DH
His numbers were not inflated by that Yankee bandbox.
2009 Home: .265/.354/.462 13 HRs
2009 Away: .286/.383/.567 15 HRs
Angels need a good lefty bat to offset all those RHB (HK, Torii, Naps, JR, possibly Wood)
Carlos Delgado could be an interesting candidate as a DH for the Angels. I get the sense he’d fit in well with the Angels and that he’d prefer to play in a low-stress market.
Good 'ol google translate to the rescue
I wouldn’t mind Hideki coming to play for the Halos. Being this much closer to Japan would help cover most of his contract with the Japanese visitor to Anaheim. They love it over there. More so that over here in the Islands. Plus add his bat, and personality, would be doubly good.
From Larry Stone in the Seattle Times
This struck me as interesting, since I had read before that Matsui wanted to play on the same team as Ichiro. Stone says it might be just the opposite, and in fact that might make the Angels a desirable destination for him (emphasis is all mine):
Hideki Matsui. Rumors of Matsui joining up with Ichiro in Seattle have been constant since the World Series. It makes some sense, even with Ken Griffey Jr.‘s return, but I still think he’ll wind up with the Yankees. This story mentions the Red Sox, Rays, Mets and Angels as possible suitors. My first question is whether Matsui and Ichiro could co-exist; that is to say, would Matsui want to share his national affection — greater than ever after being the World Series MVP — with Ichiro? I’ve heard varying opinions from people with knowledge of the situation, but the consensus I get is that it wouldn’t work; in fact, that Matsui might be more apt to sign with the Angels so he could compete with Ichiro. The second issue is, I believe the Mariners would prefer a DH that could also play in the field at times, and Matsui, with his ailing knees, doesn’t fill that bill. I don’t see it happening. But Zduriencik has made it clear that signing Griffey does not preclude acquiring a DH.
It is all speculation and rumor, of course, but that is what makes this time of the year so damn fun.
You can continue to read Stone’s speculation that the Mariners might make a run at Lackey to pair with King Felix, but that would test Lackey’s stated expectation of signing with a team which has legitimate postseason pedigree. The Mariners won’t be that team for a few more years.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
No Godzilla
Do it for Nick '09
by BryanHarvey'sMoustache on Nov 13, 2009 10:37 AM PST reply actions 1 recs
No Godzilla? Good! That just opens the door for Gigan
by Fan Since 1981 on Nov 13, 2009 12:21 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Recs to both of you
It is a big reason why I love hanging out here.
That, and the tray of sandwiches in the corner.
BTW, what’s keeping Rodan and Mothra? They should have been here by now.
"He's not a Rhodes Scholar to begin with''~Theo Epstein, talking about Papelbon
by George Kaplan on Nov 13, 2009 12:39 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs
Whoa. Stop.
The sandwiches are specifically for the “Battle of the Planets” fan club.
by Fan Since 1981 on Nov 13, 2009 9:48 PM PST up reply actions
Personally, I always wondered how Gigan pulled off getting laid.
Had I owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, I could have saved America.
The buzzsaw in the chest doesn't help. :)
Ghidrah’s gotta be pretty ticked, too; three heads, no arms.
by Fan Since 1981 on Nov 13, 2009 9:45 PM PST up reply actions
But..come on...really?
I have crossed the path of many the lady who would be more than curious about taking on three heads.
Had I owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, I could have saved America.
if we get get him for a steal of a deal than yea sure, hed be a great replacement for juan, but our DH spot is gonna be pretty crowded as is, assuming over course we get vlade back at a reduced rate.
I see matsui going to seattle to play with ichiro. I also think seatle is gonna make a run for lackey. It’s gonna a crazy summer for the AL WEST at any rate, looks like seattle is ready to start an arms race.
In Kobe we trust!
Matsui = lefthanded Vlad with patience
…so I think it’s something worth considering at least.
"F it, let's pitch." - Ervin Santana
by Chzburger Jones on Nov 13, 2009 11:01 PM PST reply actions
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